It was a rite of passage as a kid growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland. The bike. The gateway to neighborhood freedom, which eventually gave way to the wider freedom enabled by the car. But those innocent days of youth spent on my simple bike were sweet. Now, as a near middle-age man in New York City, the bicycle has become my favorite way to get around town. A little company here in Brooklyn has rekindled my affection for the simple bicycle: Brooklyn Cruiser.